Singapore

Okay, this is a very long post. Continue reading at your own risk…

I spent the past 10 days in Singapore, which is cool because not only is it a city but it is also a country (the nerd in me finds that incredibly fascinating!).

Singapore has been a welcomed break from Thailand. In Thailand, I have to deal with the language barrier, being hassled by the tuk tuk con artists, the foul stench of Bangkok, and everyone (falsely) assuming that I’m some sort of rich westerner whose pockets are bursting with hundreds of 1000 Baht bills and if they just offer me the right scam all of my riches will come raining down on them like a geyser of piñata candy. It is stressful and every day I feel like I have to put on my “game face” before I step out into public.

Thankfully Singapore is nothing like that. English is the official language, there is not a single tuk tuk in sight, the air is clean and breathable, and I can walk down the street freely without someone trying to shove some flyer for a muay thai contest or a sleazy “ping pong show” in my face. I feel like I can finally let my guard down and just be me. However, I am still unable to escape Lady Gaga and Ben Ten, which are both extremely popular for some reason in south east Asia.

Don’t get me wrong. I like Bangkok, it’s just that some things get old after a few weeks. I still enjoy riding the BTS, eating street food, trying my best to read Thai characters, speaking a little Thai here and there, finding the odd moment to see a tourist attraction, and exploring the city.

Anyway, most people I’ve talked to say that Singapore is “soulless” and has no real culture. I have not particularly found this to be true (where else in south east Asia can you stay out till midnight at an Indian market haggling with locals or eat things like mutter paneer, stingray, kway teow, and other varied foods?). There are four major cultures in Singapore and as far as I can tell, they all seem to coexist peacefully. Sure there are plenty of Starbucks and McDonald’s around but there are just as many small local restaurants and food stalls. In my opinion Singapore has plenty of soul. At least just as much as most US cities, and a lot more than the crappy US cities, which I will leave nameless to avoid offending anyone. You just have to get out of the shopping malls to find it, just like you probably won’t find much Thai “soul” in the MBK or Siam Paragon shopping malls or much Seattle “soul” at Bellevue Square Mall or Pacific Place.

Our first 5 days we stayed in a lousy hostel in the Little India neighborhood, which is pretty close to the main downtown area (I believe it’s called the “colonial district”). We took the opportunity to explore the city and get acquainted with how the MRT subway works.

Vincent, Javier, Me and Kheng in front of the iconic Singapore Merlion

I found some time to meet 3 people that I’ve met over the past year through my blog. I had the honor of meeting Vincent, Javier, and Kheng (who knows a thing or two about flirting tips for guys) while I was in Singapore. We spent an afternoon and evening wandering around downtown, talking about internet marketing, and eating local foods like stingray and beancurd before making a mad dash to catch the last subway at midnight.

I picked up some great internet marketing ideas from them that I plan on implementing when I get back to the US in December.

I really like these guys and it’s a shame that they live on the other side of the world. Thanks again for taking the time to meet with me and my girlfriend, guys! I hope I can see you again someday. Either in Singapore or elsewhere.

I guess the only thing I don’t really like about Singapore is their ubiquitous Wireless@SG free wi-fi. Pretty much everywhere you go in the city relies on the Wireless@SG. Seemingly every Starbucks, Coffee Bean, restaurant, and even the public library (!) uses it. It’s free to use. You just need to register and they’ll text you a login password to your Singapore cell phone number…

Kind of sucks if you don’t have a Singapore cell phone. My friend Javier, helped me get on the Wireless@SG wifi network, though, after I struggled with it for about 5 days. My girlfriend and I then spent a few days skulking around coffee shops writing articles.

In order to save some money and get a different perspective of the city, we left our hostel after 5 days and started couch surfing. It is an interesting idea. Members sign up with the couch surfing site and if you’re traveling, you can simply look up if anyone has a couch in the area and you can stay there free of charge. All you have to do is be willing to host someone else on your couch at some other time in the future.

I think we were spoiled by our first couch surfing experience though. We ended up staying with an English couple in a very luxurious modern high-rise building just off the ritzy Orchard Road. I don’t really know the Singapore real estate market, but if this was in Seattle, it would probably cost over $1 million (probably more). Part of me found it ironic that as a former architectural professional, you need to leave the architectural profession in order to actually afford to live in places you used to design. (It is a common misconception that architects make as much as doctors or lawyers–most only make $60,000 or so per year)

Anyway, the place was shockingly nice, and the English couple was very friendly and welcoming. Both of them were very busy however since they work in finance, but I was just so floored by the place that I couldn’t stop staring out at the cityscape view out their window.

Prawn fishing in Singapore

Later on in the week, I met up with Javier and Kheng again (Vincent was busy that day) to go prawn fishing. Basically, you sit around a pool of water with a fishing pole baited with a bit of pork meat and wait patiently (for hours!) for a prawn to bite. Afterward you can clean and grill your prawns right there. I didn’t catch one, though. I guess I need more practice, ha ha!!

I was disappointed with the Singapore Changi Airport though.  I had been reading lots of things about how you can get free massages, watch movies, and all sorts of other amazing things there.  Unfortunately, all of these seemed to be walled off behind the security check point in Terminal 3.  Doesn’t do me much good when my economy flight leaves from the Budget Terminal, which only boasts a McDonalds, a Kaya Toast stand, and crappy plastic seats to sleep in while you wait for them to let you check in one and a half hours before your flight leaves.  Oh well, maybe next time I’ll be able to afford a flashy airline in Terminal 3…

So overall, I really enjoyed my trip to Singapore. It wasn’t as dreadfully unaffordable or “soulless” as I’ve been told. The people I’ve met there have been some of the most friendly and hospitable people I’ve ever met. I guess part of me has become too jaded from being nickel and dimed all of last year by fascist parking enforcement in Seattle and huge greedy companies. It was refreshing to see a friendly and human side to the world again.

Part of me is sad to leave, but I know that I can always come back and I hope that the friendships I’ve made will last for a long time. I hope I can, in some way, return the favor someday.

Well, I’m back in Bangkok again to do more yoga, learn more Thai, and spend some time in Chiang Mai later this month (and maybe get a little work done too). Hopefully I haven’t forgotten what little Thai I’ve learned since I left Thailand.

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